ASAS

ASAS had its beginning on July 28, 1908, at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. A group of animal nutritionists, representing 13 state agricultural experiment stations and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, met during a summer school session and formed a permanent organization with a focus on animal nutrition research. A committee was appointed to present a plan for organizing during the International Livestock Exposition in Chicago that fall. On November 26, 1908, the group met and formed an organization called the American Society of Animal Nutrition. Thirty-three charter members represented 17 state experiment stations, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Canada. A constitution was adopted, and four committees were established: (1) experiments, (2) terminology, (3) methods of reporting results, and (4) affiliation. The objectives of the new Society were (1) to improve the quality of investigation in animal nutrition, (2) to promote more systematic and better correlated study of feeding problems, and (3) to facilitate personal interaction between investigators in this field. The first professional papers were presented at the Livestock Exposition Hall in Chicago on November 27–29, 1909. At the business meeting, the membership voted to publish proceedings of its annual meeting representing the first journal publications. During the first year, 100 members joined the roll.